Train passengers travelling across Birmingham and the West Midlands are being advised to expect significant service disruptions on Friday 10 and Saturday 11 July due to strike action and extreme heat.
Workers from the TSSA trade union at both West Midlands Railway and London Northwestern Railway are striking on these two days, resulting in severely reduced timetables. Some routes will have no train services at all.
On Friday, West Midlands Railway trains will cease operations after 7pm, with the last departures around 5pm. On Saturday, services will start later than usual, with trains running from approximately 7am. Passengers are strongly encouraged to plan their journeys in advance and verify schedules before travelling.
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The region is also bracing for a heatwave, with temperatures reaching highs of 33°C on Friday and 30°C on Saturday. The hot weather is expected to put additional stress on railway infrastructure, increasing the likelihood of delays or disruptions.
Stations, including Birmingham New Street, Birmingham Snow Hill, and Birmingham Moor Street, may experience higher passenger volumes than normal. Queueing systems will be implemented where necessary to manage crowds.
Martin Colmey, Network Rail’s Central Route Director, urged passengers to prepare accordingly: “With high temperatures forecast across the region, passengers should plan ahead, check before they travel, and carry water with them while travelling. Hot weather can put extra strain on railway infrastructure, so while our teams will be working hard to keep trains moving safely, there is a higher risk of disruption, delays or last-minute changes. Industrial action will also affect some services on Friday and Saturday, with reduced timetables and busier stations on parts of the network.”
In addition, London Northwestern Railway passengers travelling on the West Coast Main Line via Northampton should anticipate further disruptions on Sunday due to planned vegetation management work by Network Rail between Milton Keynes Central and Rugby until 7pm. Rail replacement buses will run between these stations during this maintenance period.